Stewart Earns Third Gatorade Player of the Year

BY ANDRES FOCIL

FAYETTEVILLE – Incoming Razorback freshman Allison Stewart has been named the 2014 Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Kansas. The nation’s state winners were announced last week by Gatorade in association with USA Today High School Sports.

Stewart, a native of Olathe, Kan., is part of the 2014-15 recruiting class brought in by head coach Mike Larabee. With her most recent selection, Stewart now has three Gatorade Kansas Player of the Year accolades to her credit.

This marks the second-consecutive season a Razorback incoming freshman has earned state honors. Last year, Sydney Wright was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Florida. Wright tallied four wins and three complete games during her freshman season.

Pitching Olathe East HS to a state runner-up finish, Stewart posted a 17-1 record and 0.82 ERA to go along with 156 strikeouts, five shutouts and two perfect games during her senior campaign. In a show of her pitch control, she walked just 10 hitters in 102.1 innings in the circle. Stewart also carried a .310 batting average with four home runs and 38 RBI at the plate. She finished her prep career with a state-record 168 career RBI.

During her four-year career at Olathe East HS, Stewart amassed a 51-3 record with 503 strikeouts and just 28 walks. Additionally, Stewart was a standout in the classroom with a 4.0 cumulative GPA. Stewart is part of the Razorbacks’ 10-player recruiting class announced by Larabee last November.